Educational Work
My career as an educator spans 25 years in K-12 and university teaching, writing, curriculum development, consulting to schools and universities (details; summary). Here, you’ll learn more about my book, associated facilitator training and courses, and my work at the University of Michigan.
Book: Reframing the Curriculum: Design for Social Justice and Sustainability
Do we want a world of more stuff and strife? Or can we create a better life?
The concepts of more and better are the basis of social narratives about how things are and how they could be. These narratives—The Story of More and The Story of Better—offer a framework for educating about sustainability and social justice. My book, Reframing the Curriculum is based on this concept.
The work offers a practical, hands-on guide to weaving the concepts of healthy communities, democratic societies, and social justice into project-based instruction across grades and disciplines.
Part I outline the philosophies, movements, and narratives shaping the future, with a focus on the world at large.
Part II examines the educational parallels in policy, pedagogy, and practice.
Part III guides readers through a clear curriculum “makeover” process based on the concepts in Parts I and II.
The result? Better learning that engage students in solving problems in their schools, communities, and the larger world. (And yes, you’ll meet standards—more than you ever imagined.)
Purchase or rent the book in hard copy or e-format, or download the free facilitator’s guide with activities for workshops, courses, and other programs.
Facilitator Training
Interested in offering in-house faculty development programs based on Reframing the Curriculum? Facilitator training is your answer. The program equips your team focused on integrating sustainability and social justice across the curriculum, regardless of grade or discipline. Programs include facilitator guides, slides, agendas, and other resources you can customize to your needs. Interested? Fill out this quick form, or contact me to learn more.
Courses at the University of Michigan
we won’t solve problems together until we realize we can’t solve them alone.
If we are to create more just and sustainable communities, we need to connect environmental, social, and economic realities-—and most importantly, the people that experience them. This is the thread that runs through my courses in the Secondary Educator Preparation program and the undergraduate Education for Empowerment minor.
Perspectives on Education Reform: This graduate course focuses on educational policy from the national to the classroom levels. Topics include neoliberalism, democracy, sustainability, privatization, social justice, equity, and institutional discrimination.
Educational Policy in a Multicultural Society: This course offers undergraduates from multiple disciplines an foundation on policy and its implications for equity and justice.
Teaching Towards Social Justice: This graduate course focused on policies and teaching approaches that foster equity and access for all students. Topics include race, social class, equity, school climate, democratic/culturally responsive teaching, and ways to teach about these topics in secondary classrooms
Schools in a Diverse and Democratic Society: Required of all undergraduate teaching majors, this course for addresses many of the above topics.
Learning for Social Change: This undergraduate course focuses on the role of learning (formal and non-formal) in supporting social change towards sustainability and equity.
Leadership Development and Strategic Communications
Educational decision-makers, policymakers, and public officials are on the front lines of shaping change. But to reach a broad range of people, messaging must join hearts and minds by appealing to shared goals. My expertise in working across political and cultural boundaries can help you unearth common values and unify unlikely allies. Together, we can improve civil discourse, catalyze action towards racial justice, or communicate the links between a strong economy and a healthy environment. Contact me to discuss your goals.
A few of my clients:
